Willingness
to Change
2
Corinthians 3:17
They
told us that much would change and well they were right. After
arriving in New Zealand we
told us that much would change and well they were right. After
arriving in New Zealand we
have been staying at Crystal Springs,
Matamata, where there is a YWAM camp here. Adjusting to the time
difference is crazy since we are eighteen hours ahead of Kentucky.
Camping in tents, learning the new words and hearing the awesome
accents of New Zealanders is great. New Zealand is a beautiful place
rich with green mountains, fields, sheep everywhere, very blue
waters, hot right now, but I’ve already seen the issue of
materialism and apathy in a laid back culture. The staffers that
work here have been willing to tell us a bit about New Zealand, but
especially that everyone here has heard of Christianity, and when the
love of Christ is not taken seriously, apathy sets in. 7-10% of it
is actually a Christian nation and New Zealand has become a victim of
its own success.
Matamata, where there is a YWAM camp here. Adjusting to the time
difference is crazy since we are eighteen hours ahead of Kentucky.
Camping in tents, learning the new words and hearing the awesome
accents of New Zealanders is great. New Zealand is a beautiful place
rich with green mountains, fields, sheep everywhere, very blue
waters, hot right now, but I’ve already seen the issue of
materialism and apathy in a laid back culture. The staffers that
work here have been willing to tell us a bit about New Zealand, but
especially that everyone here has heard of Christianity, and when the
love of Christ is not taken seriously, apathy sets in. 7-10% of it
is actually a Christian nation and New Zealand has become a victim of
its own success.
We
all have a destiny, and we are to walk in that destiny while helping
each other get to theirs. Jesus
all have a destiny, and we are to walk in that destiny while helping
each other get to theirs. Jesus
deserves our lives to be
extraordinary because of who he is, and I truly believe that we break
God’s heart when we settle to just be normal. We need a
willingness to change, because there will always be more of God than
we ever thought. As I said, New Zealand is a beautiful country, but
anywhere is more beautiful when God’s people rise up and desire to
become more like him in worship and service.
extraordinary because of who he is, and I truly believe that we break
God’s heart when we settle to just be normal. We need a
willingness to change, because there will always be more of God than
we ever thought. As I said, New Zealand is a beautiful country, but
anywhere is more beautiful when God’s people rise up and desire to
become more like him in worship and service.
There
have already been two major changes since arriving to our Launch
training camp. First, we
have already been two major changes since arriving to our Launch
training camp. First, we
have an exciting new team
member; Emily Simpson. We are really excited that she has come
aboard team Three Seventeen and she’s already making a great fit.
If you want to find out more about her go to emilysimpson.com She
has a great heart of service and love for people, she’s going to
fit well in this team.
member; Emily Simpson. We are really excited that she has come
aboard team Three Seventeen and she’s already making a great fit.
If you want to find out more about her go to emilysimpson.com She
has a great heart of service and love for people, she’s going to
fit well in this team.
Second,
we have a new race route, but we are so excited about
it! On the first day of training they
we have a new race route, but we are so excited about
it! On the first day of training they
informed us that we aren’t
going to Malaysia anymore, and we are now going to the Philippines in
March!! On mission trips like these, we have to be flexible because
anything can happen, but everyone is so excited about this change.
going to Malaysia anymore, and we are now going to the Philippines in
March!! On mission trips like these, we have to be flexible because
anything can happen, but everyone is so excited about this change.
Last,
tomorrow we leave for our first ministry site!! Our team with two
others is heading to the bottom
tomorrow we leave for our first ministry site!! Our team with two
others is heading to the bottom
of the Northern Island of New Zealand
near Wellington called El Rancho. I won’t say much about it yet in
case God changes it, but it’s going to be so unique!
near Wellington called El Rancho. I won’t say much about it yet in
case God changes it, but it’s going to be so unique!
A
Closing Prayer I wrote one morning:
My
soul thirst for you, and you satisfy all the time, but yet my mouth
wets for more.
Your
everlasting love, majesty, and greatness is beyond understanding.
My
mind will never be able to fathom the splendor of the ocean, the
perfect blue waters, the
mind will never be able to fathom the splendor of the ocean, the
perfect blue waters, the
mountains, your creation.
Your
love far outweighs the sands on these shores of New Zealand.
But
oh, my God, the darkness that lays here.
Apathetic
to the greatness of You, the giver of life and the One who formed
them.
Stuck
in want, the desire to have stuff, things, and put themselves in
place of You, only to find out that
in want, the desire to have stuff, things, and put themselves in
place of You, only to find out that
You can never be dethroned.
My
heart goes out to heal their hearts, make them clean, but more than
anything open their eyes to
heart goes out to heal their hearts, make them clean, but more than
anything open their eyes to
things unseen.
I
thank You that we can worship You, pray, and give you glory, because
of the Cross.
But
that You can always and will always speak to us when we listen.
May
our love for You only show so much to You that all people can do is
just glorify our Maker of the
our love for You only show so much to You that all people can do is
just glorify our Maker of the
stars.
